Introduction to Forensic Science

Zaitun Mogri, you helped me with my last assignments and requesting your help again, with the 2 assignment below and any information and references. Thanks!

1. Locate a case that used serology and/or alternative light sources to locate evidence. Briefly summarize the case and discuss whether the case was appealed or not. If the case was appealed, what was the outcome in higher courts? Did a specific rule of law come out of the case? What did you learn from it?
Objective:
Analyze a crime scene, including the collection/preservation of evidence.
Describe the alternative light sources used to locate evidence.

Instructor Comments:
What is serology evidence? How does this differ from DNA evidence? Be specific.
Locate a case that used DNA evidence/serology evidence. Be specific about the case.
Summarize the details of the case.- I need to see evidence of research here.
Discuss whether or not this case was appealed. Who was involved in the appeals process?
Titles?
What are the outcomes? Who was involved?
Discuss case law associated with the case if any.
What did you learn?
Please do not choose the O.J. Simpson case-be creative. If you notice that someone wrote on about a specific case, choose another one. I do not want to see repeats of cases.
Make sure that you include specific URLs of the scholarly resources you reference online.
Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

2. The prosecutor in Smalltown is new to the felony division. She has asked you to prepare a briefing for her so that she can become knowledgeable about and conversant in the serology evidence and the alternative light sources used at the crime scene to locate evidence. Prepare a 3- to 5-page paper that describes the types of serology evidence that may have been obtained at the crime scene, tests and processes that may have been used, and alternative light sources used to locate evidence at the scene.

Instructor Comments:
Provide an abstract (125 to 150 word paragraph)

Provide a solid definition of serology.
Give evidence of examples of types of serology evidence that can be found at crime scenes-
Provide details about the specific types of testing/procedures done in the lab using serology and DNA.
You will find that your textbook goes into nice detail about these testing procedures however, if you do additional outside research, the information is much more detailed. This is what I'm looking for.
What is the purpose of Alternative light sources?
What are some specific types of alternative light sources?
How can alternative light sources be used to find serology evidence at the crime scene?
Analysis link to the Valentine crime scene.... (Helen Valentine was found deceased in the master bedroom of her upstairs, two-bedroom apartment, at 11:58 AM on Tuesday morning. Upon arrival, the investigators noticed an empty bottle of vodka on the floor of her bedroom, and two shot glasses- half-full with vodka, on the kitchen table. There were also three visible dust footprints on the linoleum floor in the bathroom and kitchen. The television was on and the refrigerator was slightly ajar. Some half-eaten cheese and crackers were located on the countertops in the kitchen, and the smell of bleach was very apparent in the kitchen.
Valentine was found in a prone position, completely nude, with her head towards the foot post of her bed, facing the wall. Valentine's entire apartment was a mess, but there does not seem to be any real signs of struggle. Investigators noticed a few cuts and bruises on Valentine's wrist. After closer examination, investigators noticed a small gunshot wound on her left temple. The weapon was found in very close proximity to Valentine's right side, next to her right shoulder.
The three windows to Valentine's apartment were open and the front door was unlocked. Neighbors provided statements, stating that Valentine was a nudist and liked to flash people who passed by her windows. Investigators also found an apparent suicide note on the computer screen in the second bedroom (the computer was still on, but was in hibernating mode). Valentine's bank check; made out for $1,006.57 to a nudist colony resort and spa, lay on her computer desk. In the investigator's initial inspection, blood could be seen in the second bedroom and on the windowsill of one Valentine's apartment windows).
In what ways can you apply serology evidence/alternative light sources to finding evidence at the crime scene?
How can you tie in this knowledge AND make recommendations for specific types alternative light sources/ serology evidence collection/testing procedure for this particular crime scene?
It is likely that you will have more information about serology evidence than you will about alternative light sources so, the challenge will be for you to create a balanced presentation.
This will require you to do outside research about alternative light source evidence. I do not want 5 pages on serology evidence and one paragraph on alternative light source evidence.
Make sure this presentation addresses all aspects of the assignment question equally.
Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Solution Preview

1. Locate a case that used serology and/or alternative light sources to locate evidence. Briefly summarize the case and discuss whether the case was appealed or not. If the case was appealed, what was the outcome in higher courts? Did a specific rule of law come out of the case? What did you learn from it?

Objective:

Analyze a crime scene, including the collection/preservation of evidence.

Describe the alternative light sources used to locate evidence.

Instructor Comments:

What is serology evidence? How does this differ from DNA evidence? Be specific.
Locate a case that used DNA evidence/serology evidence. Be specific about the case.

Summarize the details of the case.

Discuss whether or not this case was appealed. Who was involved in the appeals process?
Titles?
What are the outcomes? Who was involved?
Discuss case law associated with the case if any.
What did you learn?

Summary of the case

MICHAEL E. MADSEN v MICHAEL T. GROOSE
The victim testified that she was walking by the side of a road, when Madsen abducted her by showing a knife to her throat. When she tried to escape, the victim cut her finger and was bleeding. Madsen took her to his bedroom and raped her and sodomized her. Then he wiped her bleeding finger with a towel. Later the victim complained to the police and Madsen was arrested. The knife and blood stained items were retrieved from the bathroom. However, Patsy Miller, the forensic chemist who performed serology tests on the seized items, concluded that the blood type on the seized items was different from that of the victim. When Madsen's attorney tried to introduce Miller's serology report, the prosecutor objected and told the court that even though she had endorsed Millar as a witness, the State claimed away from the jury that Miller had failed proficiency tests an so her evidence could not be admitted. The court excluded the report. When the decision was appealed against in the State Supreme Court that the exclusion of evidence by the State was suppression of material evidence and violated due process, the State Supreme court turned down the appeal. When Madsen appealed to the district court, the district court held that the exclusion violated the principle laid down in Brady v. Maryland. The district court held that the State's failure to disclose Miller's incompetence before the trail eliminated valuable impeachment evidence, because that prevented Madsen to get and independent extent to test the samples. The results could have affected the results of the trial. However, this verdict was turned down by the US Court of Appeals Eight Circuit that held that the information provided by Miller would not have been material because it would not have changed the outcome of the trial. Also, the failure of the prosecution to disclose Miller's incompetence did not actually prevent Madsen of seeking opinion from an independent expert.

The State appealed against the verdict of the District Court. Madsen appealed against the trial court at the State Supreme court and to the District Court.

Serology testing is the scientific study of blood serum. The results are used for linking a suspect to a piece of evidence. For, example linking a person to blood on the scene of crime is a use of serology tests for ...

Solution Summary

This solution gives you a detailed discussion on Introduction to Forensic Science